Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns Toolkit
Guidance for CMS' toolkit to provide action-oriented resources for health care providers and community-based organizations.
Final
Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Issue Date: May 22, 2013
Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns Toolkit
In February 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services launched Strong Start, an initiative to improve birth outcomes and reduce the risk of significant complications and long-term health problems for both expectant mothers and newborns. For decades, organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the March of Dimes have been promoting the importance of full-term pregnancies—those naturally reaching at least 39 weeks gestation—yet early elective deliveries may still account for 10-15 percent of all deliveries.
Working in partnership with several organizations, including March of Dimes, ACOG, and other stakeholders, CMS has released this toolkit to provide action-oriented resources for health care providers and community-based organizations.
Reducing the rate of early elective deliveries and the rate of pre-term birth will require work and commitment from all of us. Find out more about the steps we can all take together to make a positive difference.
The toolkit includes:
- Patient checklists
- Information for patients and families
- Posters
- Drop-in article
- Campaign materials
- Website banners
- Frequently asked questions and answers
Este folleto contiene documentos en inglés y español.
More information about early elective deliveries and our partners can be found in the Related Links section below.
HHS is committed to making its websites and documents accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities. We are in the process of retroactively making some documents accessible. If you need assistance accessing an accessible version of this document, please reach out to the guidance@hhs.gov.
DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.